Apparatus, system and method for protecting a pitcher of a ball

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, a system and a method protects a pitcher from being struck by a returning ball and has a container that encloses a bag of balls, a screen and/or a base that is attached to a lid. The lid is removed from the container and placed in front of the container which may provide a seating surface for the pitcher. The base has sides that define a channel in the base which receives the screen. The base may hold the screen in an upright position. Clips may fold outwardly from the base to assist the base in holding the screen. A leg extending from the base stabilizes the base on the ground. The pitcher may conduct batting practice by sitting on the container and throwing a ball around the screen toward the batter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for protecting a pitcher of a ball from being struck by a returning ball hit by a batter. More specifically, the invention relates to a portable system with a container that encloses balls and a screen. A lid of the container has a base that may hold the screen.

Teams, such as little-league baseball teams, may travel to neighboring towns and/or cities to face opposing teams. Typically, the home team has an advantage of familiarity with the baseball diamond and/or a lot or area where the game is played and/or nearby training areas.

Home teams may also have an advantage of practicing batting in a dedicated warm-up area, such as a batting cage. In contrast, the visiting team often hit balls into, for example, a fence due to the space restrictions of visiting teams at various baseball diamonds and/or lots.

For practice and/or preparation for a game, a coach for the visiting team may be positioned at a distance of approximately five to six feet away from the batter at an angle to the direction in which the batter hits the ball. Such a configuration of the coach relative to the batter may allow the batter to practice in a relatively confined space, such as in front of a fence, but fails to accurately recreate the orientation of the pitch relative to the batter during a game. Thus, the batters of the visiting team may be at a disadvantage while preparing for the game compared to the batters of the home team.

A variety of devices have been developed to assist with creating batting practice areas. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,776 to Macaluso discloses a foldable net with a flexible frame arranged to receive a ball; U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,885 to Munro relates to a device with a collapsible sports goal, such as a goal for soccer, that may be housed and anchored by a backpack. U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,124 to Williams discloses a backstop with a base that has an upper frame joined to support legs of the backstop. A net may be secured to the base to form a backstop with a ball retaining pocket.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,212 to Hart discloses a ball throwing device mounted behind a frame with a screen extending across the frame. The device may pitch a baseball. The pitching machine may have a frame with a base that rests on the ground and a ball throwing arm supported on the frame. The arm may swing to throw the ball toward a batter when released from a position behind the screen. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,118,103; 5,433,433; 5,427,381; 5,730,466; 6,030,300; 6,264,570; and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013/0267353 and 2014/0274479; and International Patent Application No. WO 2012/032258 generally relate to a frame with a screen to receive a projectile, such as a ball.

Known devices for receiving a ball, such as a baseball, and/or for throwing a ball from behind a screen are known. However, the devices may be difficult to transport and/or set-up and/or use. Thus, a need exists for a system that may be easily transported that has the materials needed to prepare a batter prior to playing a game, such as baseball. The system may protect a pitcher from being struck by a returning baseball hit by a batter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for protecting a pitcher of a ball from being struck by the returning ball hit by a batter. More specifically, the invention relates to a system with a container that encloses balls and a foldable screen. A lid of the container has a base that may hold the screen.

The invention provides an apparatus having a frame that may fold to reduce to a collapsed size. A screen, which may be made from a breathable material, may be stretched across the frame. A lid, which may be placed on the ground, may have a base that may extend from the lid to hold the frame in a generally upright position. A container may hold the collapsed frame, and the lid may attach to the container.

Additionally, the invention provides a system having a container holding a bag and a screen placed on the bag within the container. A lid may be attached to the container and may be removed from the container and placed in an inverted position near the container. A base may extend from the lid to hold the screen which unfolds to an expanded size.

Further, the invention provides a method for removing a frame with a screen from a container. The frame may be unfolded to expand in size and may be inserted into a base extending from a lid of the container. The lid may be placed near the container. A pitcher may sit on the container behind the screen.

Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system and a method for protecting a pitcher from being struck by a ball hit by a batter.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a container with a lid that encloses balls and a screen in the container where the lid is removed to hold the screen.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a container that may be used as a seat by the pitcher.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a pitcher protector system that is self-contained in a container.

An even further advantage of the present invention is provide a pitcher protector system that may be enclosed in a portable container.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a pitcher protector system enclosed in a portable container where the pitcher protector system may be removed from the container and oriented in various configurations.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pitcher protector system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an inverted lid on a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a lid placed next to a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a container holding a bag enclosing balls in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a lid with an arm extended outward in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a screen mounted in front of an inverted container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a screen mounted within an upright container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a screen mounted between several plates in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a screen having feet to stand on the ground in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates perspective views of the unfolding of a screen in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Further, numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pitcher protector system 10 is shown having a container 32, a lid 20 and frame 18 with a screen 12 extending therefrom. The screen 12 may be generally shaped as an oval, however other shapes, sizes and/or orientations of the screen 12 may be used. The screen 12 may extend upwardly from and/or be attached to a base 22 on the lid 20. The container 32 may enclose one or more baseballs intended for baseball, softball and/or little-league baseball practice, such as a hollow plastic ball 44 that may have perforations 68 on the ball 44 as shown in FIG. 4. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that baseball and/or softball are exemplary of sports for which the container 32 may be used. For example, the container 32 may enclose balls 44 suitable for cricket, jai-alai and/or any other game. The container 32 as shown in FIG. 1 may be exemplary of the general types of containers that may be used with the pitcher protector system 10. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other shapes, sizes and/or orientations of the container 32 may be used. In an embodiment, the screen 12 may be between four feet to six feet in height by approximately two feet in width. Each end of the screen 12 may be shaped as a semi-circle. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the dimensions, orientation and/or configuration of the screen 12 may be exemplary. Other shapes and/or sizes of the screen 12 may be used, such as a square screen, a triangular screen, an octagonal screen and/or any combination thereof, for example.

To prepare a batter for a baseball game, the contents of the pitcher protector system 10 may be removed from the container 32 and positioned as shown in FIG. 1. For example, the lid 20 of the container 30 may be positioned in front of the container 30. A pitcher 28 may invert the container 30 and place the container 30 upon a flat surface, such as the ground to provide a seating surface for the pitcher 28. The container 30, as shown in FIG. 4 may enclose a bag 64 holding one or more balls 44 placed within the container 32. The screen 12 may be collapsed and/or folded as shown in FIG. 10. Further, the screen 12 in a collapsed position 88, as shown in FIG. 10, may be placed on top of the bag 64. The lid 20 may attach to a lip 94, as shown in FIG. 1, formed on a perimeter of the container 32 to enclose the container 32.

Prior to pitching the balls 44, the pitcher 28 may remove the lid 20 from the container 32. The screen 12 may be collapsed and/or folded within the container 32 and may be removed from the container 32. The bag 64, as shown in FIG. 4, holding the balls 44 may be removed and placed outside the container 32, for example, near the pitcher 28. The screen 12 may be unfolded as shown in FIG. 10 and slid into a base 22, as shown in FIG. 1. A channel 70 may extend across the base 22 to receive and/or to hold the screen 12 in a fixed upright position.

The pitcher 28 may be seated on the container 32 behind the screen 12 at a position approximately several feet, i.e. one to three feet, behind the screen 12. The pitcher 28 may throw the ball 44 generally in a direction A around a frame 18 of the screen 12. A breathable mesh 14 may be stretched across the frame 18 to form the screen 12. In an embodiment, the mesh 14 may allow air to flow through the mesh 14 to permit the screen 12 to remain in a fixed position within the channel 70 of the base 22. Further, the mesh 14 may allow the pitcher 28 to see where he or she may pitch the ball 44 toward, for example, the batter. The mesh may have a relatively tightly interwoven pattern to protect the pitcher 28 against impact from, for example, heavier balls 44. Further, the mesh 14 may have a relatively loosely interwoven pattern to permit for air flow for use of the pitcher protector system 10 during windy weather conditions, for example.

Further, the mesh 14 may block the passage of the ball through the mesh 14. Accordingly, the mesh 14 may protect the pitcher 28 from being struck in his or her face by the ball 44, which may return toward the pitcher 28 from being struck by a batter during batting practice. Further, the direction A may be generally around the screen 12 and/or the frame 18 toward the batter who may be standing approximately six feet to twelve feet from the screen 12.

The pitcher protector system 10 with the container 32 may enclose a bag 64, as shown in FIG. 4, of balls 44 that may be placed beneath the screen 12. The frame 18 of the screen 12 may be collapsed and/or folded to fit the screen within the container 32. The lid 20 may enclose the container 32 that may allow for transport to, for example, a baseball diamond and/or field.

The pitcher may 28 may sit on the container 32 with his or her arm 34 and hand 42 holding the ball 44 that may be positioned on either side of the frame 18 of the screen 12. For example, a left-handed pitcher 28 may position his or her left arm around the left side of the frame 18 to throw the ball 44 generally in the direction A toward the batter. A right-handed pitcher 28 may position his or her right arm around the right side of the frame 18 to throw the ball 44 generally in the direction A toward the batter.

The screen 12 may provide protection against impact of the returning ball 44 from striking the pitcher 28. The screen 12 may protect the pitcher 28 from the balls 44 that may be hit by the batter during batting practice. In an embodiment, a Wiffle ball may be a type of ball 44 used with the pitcher protector system 10. Wiffle is a registered trademark of Wiffle Ball, Inc., a corporation registered in the state of Connecticut.

The pitcher protector system 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, may allow the pitcher 28 to sit on the inverted container 32 with his or her knee 30 in a bent position. Specifically, a seating surface 98 of the container 32 may be substantially flat to accommodate sitting, for example, as shown in FIG. 1. The pitcher 28 may pitch and/or throw the ball 44 in the direction A similar to what the batter may encounter during a baseball game. Accordingly, the pitcher 28 may prepare the batter to practice swinging in a manner similar to what the batter may encounter during the baseball game.

Further, the pitcher protector system 10 may assist coaches and/or trainers of, for example, traveling baseball teams to practice and/or prepare for a baseball game in locations on another baseball diamond and/or lot which may not offer adequate space for traditional batting practice. The contents of the pitcher protector system 10, namely the bag 64 that may hold the balls 44 and the screen 12, may be enclosed by the lid 20 after batting practice and/or prior to travel to and/or from a baseball diamond and/or lot. The pitcher protector system 10 may be relatively lightweight to easily grasp and/or carry and/or transport the container by, for example, the lip 36 of the container, and to lift and/or transport the container 32.

In an embodiment, the lid 20 may be aligned with and/or may be attached to the container 32. A ridge 96 that may extend from the perimeter of the lid 20 may assist the pitcher 28 and/or another person in grasping the lid 12 to, for example, remove the lid 20 from the container 32. The ridge 96 of the lid 20 may assist the lid 20 and/or the container 32, when attached to the lid 20, being grasped and/or lifted for transport. The lid 20 may have one or more holes to permit for air to flow between an outside atmosphere and the interior of the container 32.

Specifically, the container 32 may be shaped generally as a tub and/or as a bucket made from a molded rigid material, such as plastic. In an embodiment, the container may be made by Jokey Plastik Gummersbach GmbH, a corporate entity of Germany. The container 32 may have a generally square base that may be approximately sixteen inches wide. The container 32 may be approximately fifteen inches tall to define an interior volume of approximately six to seven gallons. The dimensions are intended as exemplary. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other dimensions, configurations and/or materials may be used for the container 32. For instance, in an embodiment, the container may have the lid 20 that may be generally shaped as a square with a side length of thirteen inches. The container 32 may be generally shaped as a square with a side length of twelve inches with a height of sixteen inches. Alternatively, the lid 20 and/or the container 32 may be shaped as, for example, a rectangle and/or as a cylinder. The general shape of the lid 20 may correspond with the container 32 for fitment of the lid 20 into the container 32.

Referring to FIG. 2, the base 22 is shown extending from a bottom surface 26 of the lid 20. The base 22 may have the channel 70 that may be defined by parallel sides that may extend across the base 22. A first clip 50 and/or a second clip 54 may attach to a first nut 60 and/or a second nut 62, as shown in FIG. 2. In an embodiment, the first nut 60 and/or the second nut 62 may be generally positioned at ends of the base 22. Accordingly, the first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may rotate outward from the channel 70 to receive and/or attach to the screen 12. The first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may define an orifice 52. When the first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may be unfolded and/or rotated away from the groove 70, the orifice 52 may be aligned to receive and/or attach to the screen 12.

The first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may be made from a rigid material, such as steel and/or tempered steel which may have desirable physical properties. For example, tempered steel may be magnetic. Accordingly, the frame 18, which may be made from a magnetic metal, for example, may insert into the orifice 52 and attach to, for example, the first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54. Insertion and/or attachment of the frame 18 with the screen 12 into and/or with the first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may assist the screen 12 to remain inserted in the channel 70 of the base 22. Legs 24 may be folded along either of the sides 56 to, for example, accommodate the lid 20 to attach to the container 32. The legs 24 may unfold, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, to provide lateral stability to the screen 12. For example, the channel 70 in the base 22, which may be positioned generally diagonally across and/or be attached to the lid 20, may receive the screen 12 and/or the frame 18. The screen 12 may be positioned generally upright relative to the ground and may stabilize by the legs 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, the lid 20 is shown removed from the container 32 and may be placed near the container 32. The configuration of the lid 20 relative to the container 32 may assist the pitcher 28 and/or a carrier of the container 32 to view the contents of the container 32 prior to setting up the pitcher protector system 10 for batter practice and/or training. For instance, as shown in FIG. 4, the screen 12 may be placed on top of the bag 64 of balls 44. In an embodiment, the bottom surface 26, as shown in FIG. 5, of the lid 20 may be attached to the lid 20 by screws 48.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bag 64 that may hold the balls 44 may be placed into the container 32 before the screen 12, which may be placed above and/or on top of the bag 64. A breathable mesh 68 that may be used to make the bag 64 may allow the pitcher 28 and/or a carrier of the container 32 to visually identify the contents of the bag 64. In an embodiment, each ball 44 may have perforations 68 which may reduce the weight of the ball 44 and/or enhance the ability of the ball 44 to travel through the air when thrown by the pitcher 28 and/or struck by a batter. The ball 44 that may be shaped as a sphere and be formed from a thin rigid plastic, for example, similar to a Wiffle ball. In an embodiment, a Wiffle ball may be a type of ball 44 that may be used with the pitcher protector system 10. The screen 12 may be placed in a collapsed and/or folded configuration on and/or over the bag 64 prior to, for example, carrying the container 32 with the screen 12 and/or the bag 64 to another baseball diamond and/or lot.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lid 20 is shown with the base 22 that may extend diagonally across the bottom surface 26 of the lid 20. The bottom surface 26 may be attached to the lid 20 by the screws 48. The legs 24 may be compressed and/or folded inwardly to be parallel to the base 22 and/or each other. FIG. 4 shows the base 22 extending from the bottom surface 26 with the first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 partially extended. The first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may rotate outward relative to the base 22 to, for example grasp and/or otherwise attach to the screen 12, which may be inserted in the channel 70.

The lid 20, as shown in an inverted position in FIGS. 1 and 3, may be flipped over and attached to the container 32 to seal the container 32. The screen 12, which may be collapsed and/or folded, may be placed on the bag 64 and may be held within the container 32. Specifically, the first clip 50 and/or the second clip 54 may be compressed against the screen 12 inside the container 32 to, for example, hold the screen 12 in place against the bag 64 to prevent the bag 64 from moving the container 32.

The legs 24 may extend from the base 22, as shown in FIG. 5, to stabilize the lid 20 across the surface, such as the ground, upon which the lid 20 may be placed. Accordingly, high winds and/or other inclement weather conditions such as rain, for example, may fail to destabilize the lid 20 that may hold the extended and/or unfolded screen 12 as shown in, for example, FIG. 1. Thus, the pitcher 28 may use the pitcher protector system 10 by throwing the ball in the direction A as shown in FIG. 1 in a variety of weather conditions.

Referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the pitcher protector system 10 is shown with the frame 18 of the screen 12 that may be attached to the bottom surface 26 of the lid 20. The bottom surface 26 may, for example, wrap around the container 32 to extend in a generally upwardly direction when the container 32 may be inverted and placed on the ground as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the frame of the screen 12 may be attached to the container 32 which may be positioned generally upright relative to the ground.

Referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the pitcher protector system 10 is shown with the frame 18 of the screen 12 inserted into first groove 70 and a second groove 72 that may be positioned opposite to the first groove 70. The frame 18 may be held in a fixed position by the first groove 70 and the second groove 72 in the container 32 which may be positioned relatively upright to the ground. The pitcher 28 may throw the ball 44 around the screen 12 which may be inserted in the first groove 70 and the second groove 72 to attach to and/or connect with the container 32.

Referring to FIG. 8, the screen 12 is shown inserted in between plates 76 that may be placed parallel to the ground, for example. In an embodiment, the plates may be included with and/or carried with the bag 64 of balls 44 and/or the screen 12 in the container 32 to, for example, a game at a baseball diamond and/or lot. The plates may be substantially flat to sit on, for example, the ground, and assist in stabilizing the screen in an upright position 74, as shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, the screen 12 may be inserted in between and/or attached in between the plates 76 to be held upright relative to the ground.

Referring to FIG. 9, the screen 12 is shown with the frame 18 that may be attached to a first pair of feet 90 and/or a second pair of feet 92. The feet 90 and/or 92 may allow the screen 12 to stand on the ground. The first pair of feet 90 may be positioned apart from the second pair of feet 92 to stabilize the screen 12 on the ground to provide flexibility to the pitcher 28 in preparing a batter to play in, for example, a baseball game.

In an embodiment, the orientations and/or configurations of the screen 12 relative to the container 32 and/or the plates 76, as shown in FIGS. 6-9, may provide additional flexibility to the pitcher 28. Accordingly, the pitcher 28 may prepare and/or use protector system 10 to accommodate a variety of baseball training situations and/or weather conditions, for example.

Referring to FIG. 10, the screen 12 is shown collapsing from an extended position 78 to a collapsed position 86. For example, the frame 18 of the screen 12 may be collapsible and be made from a high-carbon content spring steel, such as tempered steel. In an embodiment, the frame 18 may be approximately half an inch (½″) in width. The screen 12 may be approximately two feet in width by four and one half feet in height and be made from a polyester knit fabric. The dimensions may be exemplary and the frame may be formed in any size, shape, orientation and/or dimension. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the frame 18 may be made with a different shape and/or geometry than that shown in FIG. 10. The screen 12 may be made from a polyester knit fabric band sown with, for example a cavity to attach to the frame 18.

To assemble the frame 18 with the screen 12, fabric material that may be used to make the screen 12 may be cut to size. A fabric band, also referred to as a “banding fabric”, may be sewn on and/or across the interior-facing perimeter of the frame 18. The screen 12 may be made in any color. In an embodiment, the screen 12 may be black.

Fabric of the screen 12 may be stretched to attach to the frame 18 and may flex in accordance with movement and/or flexure of the frame 18 during the collapse of the screen 12 to the collapsed position 88. The frame 18 may be twisted and/or bent to a first intermediate position 80. The frame 18 then may be further twisted and/or bent to subsequent intermediate positions 82, 86 prior to forming the collapsed position 88, which may fit into the container 32. The folding and/or collapsing shown in FIG. 10 of the screen 12 is exemplary. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other methods of reducing the screen 12 in size may exist and be used with the pitcher protector system 10. For example the screen 12 may be formed with the frame 18 that may periscope and/or sequentially collapse into adjacent segments, for example.

Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for protecting a pitcher during batting practice on grounds between the the pitcher and a batter, the apparatus comprising: a frame that collapses to a reduced size; a screen on the frame wherein the screen is made from a breathable material; a lid with a base extending from the lid wherein the lid is placed on the grounds and further wherein the base extends from the lid to hold the frame; and a container that holds the frame wherein the lid attaches to the container.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a channel on the base to engage with the frame.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a ledge that extends from the container wherein the ledge provides a gripping surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a substantially flat seating surface on the container.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a leg that extends from the base to stabilize the base on the grounds.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a clip that unfolds from the base to receive the screen.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of balls in the container.
 8. A system for protecting a pitcher from being struck by a returning ball, the system comprising: a container; a lid attachable to the container wherein the lid is removed from the container and placed near the container; and a screen held within the container wherein the screen is removed from the container and inserted on the lid to extend from the lid.
 9. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a seating surface on the container.
 10. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a bag holds that balls for the pitcher.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein the screen is collapsed to fit into the container.
 12. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a base extending from the lid wherein the base opens to receive the screen.
 13. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a clip that extends from the base to attach to the screen.
 14. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a leg that extends laterally from the lid to stabilize the lid on grounds between the pitcher and a batter.
 15. A method for protecting a pitcher from being struck by a ball returning toward the pitcher, the method comprising the steps of: transporting a container holding the ball and a screen; removing a lid attached to the container to remove the ball and the screen to expand the screen; and inserting the screen on a base extending from the lid.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: inverting and placing the container behind the screen.
 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising: blocking the ball by the screen.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising: collapsing the screen to fit into the container.
 19. The method of claim 15 further comprising: opening a clip attached to the lid wherein the clip receives the screen.
 20. The method of claim 15 further comprising: throwing the ball toward a batter positioned opposite to the screen. 